Bush cuts cruel to troops

President Bush calls his proposed budget for fiscal year 2007 fiscally responsible. After making tax cuts to the wealthy and big business permanent, paying for the war in Iraq and implementing an unproven anti-missile system, there is precious little discretionary money left over for needed social programs. One might give Bush the benefit of the doubt when he reasons that the programs he proposes to terminate or cut represent those that have accomplished what was intended, duplicate other programs, are ineffective or can be accomplished more effectively with state grants. But it is extremely difficult to agree with Bush’s tax cuts that affect the military. Despite Bush’s rhetoric of how much he honors them, he proposes $910 million in cuts to the Veterans Administration, no increase to the death benefit for soldiers killed on active duty, pay-raise caps for soldiers, no tax relief for soldiers fighting overseas and deployed for extended periods, and cutting in half the funds for brain-injury research. Bush has received plenty of support from U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo, R-2nd. Whether we support the war in Iraq or not, we should all stand behind our troops and protest these cruel cuts – and kick out of office any member of Congress who sees fit to vote for Bush’s budget. Karen Padmore, Cape May Court House - Published in the Atlantic City Press, September 4, 2006